Fifth-wheel



(No Model.) I

W. E. BENDLER.

V FIFTH WHEEL. No. 393,056, Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

mum

llllll llllll'l'n.llllllllllmllllllll N. FHERS. PhulbLflhoghplwr, Wnshingiun. D. Q

- face of the upper plate.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFEICE.

WILLIAM E. BENDLER, OF SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,056, dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed March 1, 1888. Serial N 0. 265,845. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BENDLER, of Sheboygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Fifth-VVheels of Wagons; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon,whioh form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to improvements in the fifth-wheel or supporting bearingplates and attachments by which the body of a wagon is secured to the front axle. It is a well-known fact that when one of the wheels of a wagon drops below or is-elevated above the plane of the other wheels it has a tendency to twist the body of the wagon.

My invention consists in providing a slightly convex or angular supporting-bearing between the frontend ofthe body and the axle,which will permit of the slight inclination of the axle of the wagon when one of the wheels is raised or lowered, as mentioned, without inclining or twisting the body of the wagon.

My invention also relates to the construction and location of the head of the king-bolt or retaining-pivot by which the body and front axle are secured together,whereby such parts are free to oscillate upon their supportingbearings,as mentioned,without bearing against or clamping said retaining bolt or pivot.

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents afront view, and Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section, of my device detached from the body andaxle of a carriage. Fig. 3 represents a bottom view of the top plate, which is secured to the body of the carriage. Fig. 4 represents a top view of the bottomplate, which is secured to the axle and upon which the topplate shown in Fig. 3 rests. Fig. 5 represents an equivalent form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the convex bearing form on the lower sur- Fig. 6 is'a cross-section of the contiguous bearingplates of the axle and body.

Like parts are represented by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A represents the upper plate or hearing, which is rigidly affixed to the center of the front end of the carriage-body in the ordinary manner, and the same is provided with a downward-projecting annular flange, B, and central flange, O, which flanges B and O are nicely fitted to and adapted to operate within the upward projecting annular flanges D and E, formed upon the.lower bearing-plate, F.

In the preferred form shown in Fig. l the upper edges of the annular flange are made slightly convex, terminating at obtuse angles a adirectly in front and rear of the axle, upon which angles a the upper plate, A, rests, and is adapted to oscillate or be inclined, as mentioned.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper surface of the not be resisted by the retaining-pivot G, but

instead, owing to the fact that the bearing- 1 points of the retaining-pivot G are in line with the point of oscillation of the plate A, said plate A is free to oscillate with but slight friction and without danger of cramping or bending the retaining-pivot.

The pivot G is preferably cast integral with one of the retaining-plates, and is provided with an elongated head or lug, A, projecting from one side and at right angles to the pivot, and the thereon-secured plate is provided with a slot, 0, upon one side of the pivot-receiving aperture for the reception of said lug A. When the pivot is inserted in the aperture, the plate thus secured is turned a partial revolution, so that the lug or head A is brought out of line with the slot or aperture G, when the two plates are thereby locked together by the lug A. If desirous, the upper edge of the annular flange D may be made straight and a downward-projecting convex bearing-surface may be made on the upper plate, as shown in the equivalent form in Fig. 5.

H H are upward-projecting lugs formed integral with the plate A,which engage upon the respective sides of the cross-bar I, as indicated in Fig. 3, and thus serve to retain said cross bar more firmly in place.

J J are downward-projectinglugs, which are formed integral with the lower plate, D, and are adapted to engage upon the respective sides of the front axle, K, as indicated in Fi 4.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the upper plate, A, provided with the annular downward-projecting flanges B and G, and lower plate, F, provided with upward-projecting annular flanges D and E, adapted to engage the annular flanges of said upper plate, said flange D being formed with a front and rear angular or convex bearing-surface for the thereon-supported plate A, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the contiguous bearing-plates of the front axle and body of the wagon having interlocking flanges, one of which is provided with an angular or convex bearing-surface, of a retaining -pivot having its-downward bearing-surface upon the upper plate in line with the convex bearing-surface of such plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the contiguous hearingplates A and F, having interlocking flanges, one of'which is provided with an angular convex bearing-surface, of the retainingpivot G, east integral with one of said plates, provided with a head or lug, A, projecting from one side of said pivot at right angles thereto, and the thereon-retained opposing plate, provided with a recess, 0, for the reception of the head or retaining-lug A, by which said plates are locked together, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereofI aflix my siguatu re in presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM E. BENDLER.

\Vitne'sses:

.TAS. 1'3. ERWIN, ,G. T. BuNnDro'r. 

